Yellowstone National Park Encyclopedia > Places > United States, Canada, and Greenland > U.S. National Park System Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park, 2,219,791 acres (899,015 hectares), the world's first national park (est. 1872), NW Wyo., extending into Montana and Idaho. It lies mainly on a broad plateau in the Rocky Mts., on the Continental Divide, c.8,000 ft (2,440 m) above sea level, surrounded by mountains from 10,000 to 14,000 ft (3,048–4,267 m) high. The area, a huge craterlike volcanic basin (caldera), is a geological "hot spot" responsible for several massive eruptions, the most recent occurring some 600,000 years ago. The plateau is mostly formed from once-molten lava. Volcanic activity is evidenced by nearly 10,000 hot springs, 200 geysers, and many vents and mud pots. The more prominent geysers are unequaled in size, power, and variety.

Old Faithful, the best known although not the largest, erupts every 40 to 70 min and shoots c.11,000 gal (41,640 liters) of water some 150 ft (46 m) high. Mammoth Hot Springs, a series of five terraces with reflecting pools, continues to grow as residue from the mineral-rich water is deposited. The park also has petrified forests, lava formations, and the "black glass" Obsidian Cliff. Eagle Peak, 11,370 ft (3,466 m), is the highest point. Yellowstone Lake, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and waterfalls are notable features on the Yellowstone River, which crosses the park. The park has a wide variety of flowers and other plant life. Bears, mountain sheep, elk, bison, moose, many smaller animals, and more than 200 kinds of birds inhabit Yellowstone, which is one of the world's largest wildlife sanctuaries.

Fires in 1988 burned about 36% of the park, but animal and plant life rebounded quickly, as the nutrient influx in the ash nourished the soil. See J. Muir, Yellowstone National Park (1979); B. T. Scott, The Geysers of Yellowstone (rev. ed. 1986); G. Wuerthner, Yellowstone & the Fires of Change (1988). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. Yellowstone Lake | lake, Wyoming, United States | Britannica.com Yellowstone Lake Yellowstone River Yellowstone Lake, large natural lake in Yellowstone National Park , northwestern Wyoming , U.S. It lies at 7,730 feet (2,356 metres) above sea level and is the largest body of water in North America , and the second largest in the world, at so high an elevation. It is fed by some six dozen streams and rivers, including the Yellowstone River , which flows into the lake in the southeast and drains it at the northern end.

About 20 miles (32 km) long and 14 miles (23 km) wide at its greatest extent, the lake has a surface area of 132 square miles (342 square km), a shoreline of 141 miles (227 km), an average depth of 140 feet (43 metres), and a maximum depth variously given as about 390 or 410 feet (119 or 125 metres). Although hot water is now known to flow into the lake from vents located at places along the bottom (in addition to the small amount flowing in from the West Thumb Geyser Basin), the lake’s water remains cold throughout the year. Ice begins to form on its surface in late December or early January, and it remains frozen until late May or early June. The northern two-thirds of the irregularly shaped lake occupies the southeastern portion of the Yellowstone Caldera , an enormous crater in the land’s surface formed by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption in the region some 640,000 years ago.

Two branches, the South and Southeast arms, constitute southward fjordlike extensions outside of the caldera from the roughly oval main portion of the lake. In addition, the West Thumb is a knoblike protrusion on the lake’s western side that was formed by a relatively small eruption in the caldera about 150,000 years ago. The West Thumb Geyser Basin was the first of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal features to be described in print, in a letter published in a Philadelphia newspaper in 1827. Heated water flowing into Yellowstone Lake from West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, … © Boykov/Shutterstock.com Water - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Water Water Water Yellowstone waters provide essential moisture to much of the American West and water resources provide recreational opportunities, plant and wildlife habitat, and scenic vistas. NPS / Diane Renkin The water that flows through Yellowstone National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) is a vital national resource. The headwaters of seven great rivers are located in the GYE, and flow from the Continental Divide through communities across the nation on their way to the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of California, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Precipitation in the mountains and plateaus of the Northern Rockies circulates through these aquatic veins to provide essential moisture to much of the American West; and water resources provide recreational opportunities, plant and wildlife habitat, and scenic vistas. Water also drives the complex geothermal activity in the region and fuels the largest collection of geysers on earth. Precipitation and groundwater seep down into geothermal "plumbing" over days, and millennia, to be superheated by the Yellowstone Volcano and rise to the surface in the form of hot springs, geysers, mudpots, and fumaroles. Yellowstone contains one of the most significant, near-pristine aquatic ecosystems found in the United States. More than 600 lakes and ponds comprise approximately 107,000 surface acres in Yellowstone—94 percent of which can be attributed to Yellowstone, Lewis, Shoshone, and Heart lakes. Some 1,000 rivers and streams make up approximately 2,500 miles of running water. Major watersheds in Yellowstone National Park. NPS / Yellowstone Spacial Analysis Center Lakes Yellowstone's inland lakes are essential aquatic habitat for resident species.

They are largely protected from many of the environmental stresses to which waters outside the park boundaries may be victim. These lakes maintain freshwater biodiversity, support elaborate food webs, and underpin plant and animal communities. Understanding the complexities of Yellowstone's freshwater ecology allows park managers to help maintain successful ecosystem functioning in the face of nonnative invasive species, climate change, and pollution. Yellowstone Lake Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake (above 7,000 ft) in North America. Covering 286 square miles, with an average depth of 138 feet, and just over 12,000,000 acre-feet of water. The lake is covered by ice from mid December to May or June. Entering Yellowstone Lake are more than 141 tributaries, but only one river. The Yellowstone River, which enters at the south end of the southeast arm, dominates the inflow of water and sediment flows out. The only outlet of the lake is at Fishing Bridge, where the Yellowstone River flows north and discharges 2,000–9,000 cubic feet per second.

Powerful geologic processes in Yellowstone National Park have contributed to the unusual shape of Yellowstone Lake, which straddles the southeast margin of the Yellowstone caldera. A smaller caldera-forming event about 140 thousand years ago, comparable in size to Crater Lake, Oregon, created the West Thumb basin. Several significant glacial advances and recessions continued to shape the lake and overlapped the volcanic events. Glacial scour deepened the central basin of the lake and the faulted south and southeast arms. More recent dynamic processes shaping Yellowstone Lake include currently active fault systems, development of a series of postglacial shoreline terraces, and postglacial hydrothermal-explosion events, which created the Mary Bay crater complex and other craters. (See Yellowstone Lake Geology ) Many of the area's 1,000 to 3,000 annual earthquakes occur under Yellowstone Lake, causing uplift and subsidence events which continually reshape the shoreline of the lake. Yellowstone Lake is also the site of one of the most extensive conservation efforts in the National Park Service.

Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) which were illegaly introduced to Yellowstone Lake have jeopordized the survival of the native population of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri). See Native Fish Species and Lake Trout for more information. More: Yellowstone Lake Quick Facts Elevation: 7,731 feet (2,357 m) Surface area: 131.8–135.9 mi2 (341–352 km2) Perimeter (Shoreline): 141 miles (227 km) Deepest point is due east of Stevenson Island at 430 feet (131 m) Lewis and Shoshone Lakes Lewis Lake is fed by the Lewis River and other tributaries. Shoshone lake is a valuable wilderness resource. Only accessible by foot, or by boat through the Lewis River Channel, one of the park's amazing geyser basins lies near the northwest shore. More: Shoshone Lake Heart Lake Heart Lake is located at the south end of the park near the base of Mt. Sheridan.

It sits in prime bear habitat, and there are several thermal areas along the northwest shore. The Gibbon River is a popular place to view rapids. NPS / Jim Peaco Rivers Watersheds, or drainage basins, represent the surface area that contributes runoff to a particular river. The boundaries of a watershed are ridges or elevated areas which determine the direction surface water will flow. Any rain or snow that falls within the watershed will flow downstream to the basin's mouth, unless it is removed from the flow by evaporation, freezing, absorption as groundwater, or diversion for human use. Yellowstone River The Yellowstone River is 671 miles long. It is the longest undammed river in the lower 48 states. The headwaters of the Yellowstone is outside the southeast park boundary on Younts Peak (Wyoming) and flows into Yellowstone Lake. It leaves the lake at Fishing Bridge, and continues north-northwest until it leaves the park near Gardiner, Montana. The Yellowstone River continues north and east through Montana and joins the Missouri River just across the North Dakota state line. Its watershed drains one-third of the state of Montana.

It carves out the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in the middle of the park and runs over the Upper and Lower Falls. The Yellowstone River is among the top recreational river destinations in the US and provides opportunities for boating and fishing enthusiasts, birders, and for recreation. Additionally, the Yellowstone River serves many downstream communities (e.g., Billings, Montana) and is recognized regionally and nationally for economic importance to agriculture, industry, and municipalities. More: Yellowstone River Lamar River The Lamar River originates on the east side of the park. Park boundaries were adjusted in 1929 to include the entire Lamar watershed in order to protect this major tributary of the Yellowstone River. The Lamar River is joined by Soda Butte Creek as it flows across the northern range to the outflow of Yellowstone Lake. The Lamar River Valley is home to wild pronghorn, bison rutting, bear habitat, the most consistent viewing of wild wolves in the world, and first-rate fly fishing. Gardner River The Gardner Rivers originate in the northwest corner of the park and flow to the Missouri River. The Gardner flows into the Yellowstone first, joining near Rattlesnake Butte at the north entrance to the park.

Snake River The Snake River—a major tributary of the Columbia River—originates in the Teton Wilderness, flows north into Yellowstone National Park, and then turns south, passing through the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway into Grand Teton National Park. The river flows through Idaho and joins the Columbia in Washington. The Snake River is 1,040 miles long (1,674 km); 42 miles (68 km) of it are in Yellowstone National Park. The river feeds Jackson Lake—a natural lake augmented by a dam, resulting in regulated downstream flows since 1907. Visitors enjoy a multitude of recreational opportunities on the river such as rafting, fishing, and photography. The river is home to a wide variety of riparian and aquatic species, including the native Yellowstone cutthroat trout and an endemic variety, the Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat. The 2009 Snake River Headwaters Legacy Act designated the river above Jackson Lake as a Wild and Scenic River. More: Snake River Firehole River Home to several species of trout, the Firehole River is a favored fly fishing spot.

Most of the outflow from the park's geyser basins empties into the Firehole River causing it to be warmer with larger concentrations of dissolved minerals (chemically richer) than other watersheds. The Gibbon and Firehole Rivers join to form the Madison River. The Madison flows to Hebgen Lake, joins the Jefferson River and eventually the Missouri Riveron its way to the Gulf of Mexico. ( Watch video of the Firehole River in Winter, Video Library ) A volunteer collects a water sample at Soda Butte Creek. Collection of water quality data has continued at fixed sites since 2002. NPS / Todd Koel Water Quality The quality of the nation's waters is protected by laws and policy at local, state, and federal levels. To understand and maintain or improve water quality and aquatic ecosystems, resource managers take inventory and actively monitor water resources throughout the region. Water quality in a national park may reflect activities taking place upstream of the park's surface waters as well as within the park. The water quality in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, where most of the watersheds originate on federally protected land, is generally very high.

However, it is vulnerable to impacts such as road construction, recreational activities, and deposition from atmospheric pollutants. All Yellowstone waters are classified as Outstanding National Resource Waters, which receive the highest level of protection for surface waters under the Clean Water Act. Because of the relatively pristine nature of the park's surface waters, they are often used to establish reference conditions for the northern Rocky Mountain region. Although most of the park's watersheds originate within its boundaries and are minimally affected by human activities, they are vulnerable to impacts such as road construction, dewatering, atmospheric deposition, sewage spills, climate change, and runoff from mining sites outside park boundaries. Long-term Water Quality Monitoring Monitoring water quality continues to be a high priority for Yellowstone, with standardized data collected at fixed sites since 2002. This long-term data is used to evaluate overall ecosystem health, ascertain impacts of potential stressors (e.g., road construction activities, accidental sewage spill), identify changes that may be associated with water quality degradation, and guide resource management decisions related to water quality. The characteristics of Yellowstone's surface waters are influenced by season, elevation, and precipitation. Some waters are also affected by the park's geothermal features, generally resulting in warmer temperatures and higher dissolved ion concentrations.

Park staff monitors water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance turbidity, and total suspended solids at 11 stream sites and 7 sites on Yellowstone Lake. Park staff collect chemical parameters from 10 stream sites, including anions, cations, and nutrients. In 2013, all but three sites met or surpassed national and state water quality standards on all collection days. The three sites where pH value exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency freshwater aquatic life standards (pH 6.5–9.0 standard units) were upper Soda Butte Creek, Yellowstone River near Canyon, and Gibbon River. Results on the Gibbon and Yellowstone rivers were most likely the effect of acidic runoff from several thermal areas upstream from the sites. Mine tailings deposited in the stream channel and surrounding floodplain of Soda Butte Creek outside the park, could be contributing to the low pH values observed during the collection date. Park staff also monitor three sites on the park boundary where stream segments in the Yellowstone River drainage have been listed as impaired by the State of Montana. Reese Creek Irrigation by landowners north of the park has often reduced the lowermost reach of the stream during mid-summer and fall.

The water flow becomes unsuitable for sustaining native trout and overall biological integrity. The adjudicated water rights stipulate that the creek is to have a minimum flow of 1.306 ft3/sec from April 15 to October 15. Soda Butte Creek Soda Butte Creek is located near the park boundary, approximately 5 miles (8 km) downstream of the McLaren Mine. As a result of metal contamination from previous mining activity, dissolved and total metals (arsenic, copper, iron, and selenium) persist in the floodplain. State and federal agencies completed a three-year effort to relocate mine tailings away from the floodplain in 2014. Results from monitoring activities in Soda Butte Creek downstream of the reclamation work show that iron levels associated with the former mining site have been dramatically reduced. In addition, a collaboration between state and federal agencies is underway to further evaluate the contributions of metals from other tributaries in the Soda Butte Creek drainage.

Yellowstone River upstream of Corwin Springs Similar to prior years, water samples from three sites on the Yellowstone River and three sites on tributaries during the low flow period from late April to early May indicated that all of the sites exceeded the EPA drinking water standard of 0.01 mg/L total arsenic. The high total arsenic values in this drainage may be due to natural geological or geothermal influences on water chemistry. Yellowstone Caldera : The Biggest Volcanic Eruption Ever Awaits Mankind - YouTube Yellowstone Caldera : The Biggest Volcanic Eruption Ever Awaits Mankind Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jan 12, 2014 Yellowstone National Park lies on top of a magma chamber that is 35-miles wide, waiting to erupt. The Yellowstone Caldera is the volcanic caldera and supervolcano located in Yellowstone National Park in the United States, sometimes referred to as the Yellowstone Supervolcano.

The caldera is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, in which the vast majority of the park is contained. The major features of the caldera measure about 34 by 45 miles (55 by 72 km). The caldera formed during the last of three supereruptions over the past 2.1 million years. First came the Huckleberry Ridge eruption 2.1 million years ago, which created the Island Park Caldera and the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff. Next came the Mesa Falls eruption 1.3 million years ago, which created the Henry's Fork Caldera and the Mesa Falls Tuff. Finally came the Lava Creek eruption 640,000 years ago, which created the Yellowstone Caldera and the Lava Creek Tuff. The last full-scale eruption of the Yellowstone Supervolcano, the Lava Creek eruption which happened nearly 640,000 years ago, ejected approximately 240 cubic miles (1,000 km3) of rock, dust and volcanic ash into the sky.

Geologists are closely monitoring the rise and fall of the Yellowstone Plateau, which measures on average 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) yearly, as an indication of changes in magma chamber pressure. The upward movement of the Yellowstone caldera floor between 2004 and 2008 — almost 3 inches (7.6 cm) each year — was more than three times greater than ever observed since such measurements began in 1923. From mid-summer 2004 through mid-summer 2008, the land surface within the caldera moved upward as much as 8 inches (20 cm) at the White Lake GPS station. By the end of 2009, the uplift had slowed significantly and appeared to have stopped. In January 2010, the USGS stated that "uplift of the Yellowstone Caldera has slowed significantly" and that uplift continues but at a slower pace. The U.S. Geological Survey, University of Utah and National Park Service scientists with the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory maintain that they "see no evidence that another such cataclysmic eruption will occur at Yellowstone in the foreseeable future.

Recurrence intervals of these events are neither regular nor predictable." This conclusion was reiterated in December 2013 in the aftermath of the publication of a study by University of Utah scientists finding that the "size of the magma body beneath Yellowstone is significantly larger than had been thought." The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory issued a statement on its website stating, " Although fascinating, the new findings do not imply increased geologic hazards at Yellowstone, and certainly do not increase the chances of a 'supereruption' in the near future. Contrary to some media reports, Yellowstone is not 'overdue' for a supereruption. " Other media reports were more hyperbolic in their coverage. A study published in GSA Today identified three fault zones that future eruptions are most likely to be centered on. Two of those areas are associated with lava flows aged 174,000--70,000 years, and the third area is a focus of present-day seismicity.

Category Yellowstone grizzly bear may lose threatened status - CNN.com Yellowstone grizzly bear may lose threatened status By Susannah Cullinane, CNN Updated 2:21 AM ET, Fri March 4, 2016 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. A Grizzly bear mother and her cub in Yellowstone National Park. Story highlights The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes taking Yellowstone grizzlies off the threatened list It says the bear population has recovered and no longer needs protection (CNN) Yellowstone grizzly bears are emerging from their winter hibernation to news that wildlife officials no longer consider them threatened. Monitoring indicates the Yellowstone bear population has grown from as few as 136 in 1975 to an estimated 700, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement Thursday. "Stable population numbers for grizzlies for more than a decade also indicate that the Yellowstone ecosystem is at or near its carrying capacity for the bears," it said.

Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Yellowstone: Our first national park – Old Faithful Geyser may be the most-famous "resident" of Yellowstone National Park, but park ranger Dan Hottle says there is much more to see at the 2.2 million-acre park. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Yellowstone: Our first national park – Yellowstone National Park was the nation's first national park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. It's predominantly in Wyoming but also touches Idaho and Montana. Check in next week for Arches National Park . Hide Caption Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Castle Geyser – Castle Geyster just in the same basin as Old Faithful. Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Yellowstone: Our first national park – Grand Prismatic Spring is Hottle's favorite spring in the park, and it's in Midway Geyser Basin about five miles from Old Faithful.

When the light is right, hike up one of the mountains surrounding the spring and you'll see the steam change colors because of the spring's bacteria. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Yellowstone: Our first national park – There's a good chance of spotting wolves on the drive to the Lamar Valley, Hottle says. He likes to stop at a pullout about halfway to the valley and hike into the woods, where he can sometimes see a wolf or its pack. (Hottle found this wolf in his backyard.) Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Yellowstone: Our first national park – Rangers plead with with visitors to pull off the road to shoot pictures of bison (shown here in the Lamar Valley) or other wildlife that call Yellowstone home. Travelers have been known to stop their cars in the middle of the road to look at the view, or worse: look sideways to admire the nature while driving. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Yellowstone: Our first national park – In elk mating season, which starts around September, the bulls come down from the mountains and gather up as many cows (female elk) as they can into harems.

Shown here is a harem of 27 cows resting in Mammoth Hot Springs near the town post office. Visitors are cautioned to stay at least 25 yards away from the elk, which have been known to ram cars and trap people. Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Yellowstone: Our first national park – Hottle recommends that hikers travel in groups of at least three, stay on designated trails, carry bear pepper spray and make noise as they hike to avoid surprising bears (mother bears can attack when surprised). He and his family have hiked "every inch" of Electric Peak, a nearly 11,000-foot mountain. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Yellowstone: Our first national park Glacier National Park – Hottle also loves visiting Glacier National Park in Montana, a nine-hour drive by car. "There's a wildness about Glacier that makes it even more dangerous and adventurous than Yellowstone," he said. Glacier's Wild Goose Island is shown here. Hide Caption 9 of 9 "In response to the successful recovery of one of the nation's most iconic animals, the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to remove the grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife ," it said. Delisting means the bears are no longer threatened, and would not be protected by the Endangered Species Act. They could be hunted within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which lies in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana , though not the Yellowstone National Park itself. Read More Conservation plans The wildlife service said the restoration of bear populations in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho "stands as one of America's great conservation successes." "Our proposal today underscores and celebrates more than 30 years of collaboration with our trusted federal, state and tribal partners to address the unique habitat challenges of grizzlies," director Dan Ashe said. "The final post-delisting management plans by these partners will ensure healthy grizzly populations persist across the Yellowstone ecosystem long into the future." Public chance to comment The wildlife service is seeking comment from the public, agencies and scientists after publication in the Federal Register, expected in the next few days. "Even with this proposed delisting, the service remains committed to the conservation of the Yellowstone grizzly bear, and will stay engaged to ensure that this incredible species remains recovered," Ashe said. Still in need of protection?

However, the National Resources Defense Council questioned the proposed move. "Yellowstone grizzly bears are an isolated population that is experiencing high levels of conflicts with people and is likely declining in the wake of the loss of whitebark pine, a critically important food source," said Sylvia Fallon , a senior scientist at NRDC. READ: Yellowstone grizzly put down after hiker killed Fallon questioned the accuracy of the population estimates, saying the bears were on the decline. She added they would likely also need to be connected to bears outside the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to avoid genetic problems. "The Endangered Species Act has been tremendously successful at saving this population and preventing its demise," she said. " And retaining those valuable protections until the Yellowstone grizzly population is more robust and its future more certain is the best way to turn that past success into true recovery." The Fish and Wildlife Service removed the Yellowstone grizzly bear population from the threatened species list in 2007, but the decision was challenged and later overturned by a federal district judge. A later appeal by the service failed.

The wildlife service describes endangered species a s those at the brink of extinction now while a threatened species "are likely to be at the brink in the near future." Awake and hungry Meanwhile, Yellowstone National Park has warned that its grizzlies are awake, hungry and looking for food. The National Parks Service said the first confirmed report of grizzly bear activity after the winter hibernation came nearly two weeks ago. 1st grizzly sighting of the spring today over Nez Perce Crk. Get a bear safety refresher at . pic.twitter.com/JhkflMRwOY — YellowstoneNPS (@YellowstoneNPS) 24 February 2016 "Bears begin looking for food soon after they emerge from their dens," the parks service said in a statement. It recommended that park visitors stay in groups of at least three, make noise on the trail and carry bear spray. "Yellowstone regulations require visitors to stay 100 yards from black and grizzly bears at all times. The best defense is to stay a safe distance from bears and use binoculars, a telescope or telephoto lens to get a closer look," the parks service said.

Yellowstone closes areas of the park where humans are more likely to encounter bears that could react aggressively while feeding on elk and bison carcasses. Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound Here's a look at other rare animals whose once-dwindling populations have rebounded. The inspiration for the teddy bear, the Louisiana black bear, will be delisted as a threatened species on March 11, 2015. The bear was originally listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1992 due to habitat loss. Hide Caption Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound Citing significant improvements in its population and habitat conditions and reductions in direct threats, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed downlisting the West Indian manatee from "endangered" to "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound Thanks to conservation efforts by states, landowners and others, the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel -- native to Mid-Atlantic states -- is no longer at risk of extinction.

One of the animals included on the first list of endangered species nearly a half-century ago, the squirrel was set to be removed from the list in December 2015, the U.S. Department of the Interior said. Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound Columbian white-tailed deer, native to Oregon and Washington, were officially listed as endangered in 1967. They were removed from the list in 2003 after the population grew from less than 2,000 to more than 5,500. Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound The Lake Erie water snake, native to the Great Lake's waters between Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio, was removed from the endangered species list in 2011. The snakes grow to more than 3 feet in length and are not venomous. Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound A gray whale calf emerges from the waters off Baja California, Mexico, in 2010.

The Pacific gray whales have been protected since 1970 and are at the center of a growing whale-watching industry. They were removed from the endangered species list in 1994, although climate change has impacted their food chain and caused their numbers to decline again in recent years. Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound The Steller sea lion, native to Alaska, was removed from the list in 2013 after 23 years of federal protection. Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound The Virginia northern flying squirrel was in danger of extinction in 1985, when scientists documented only 10 remaining animals. But its population made a comeback, and the squirrel was removed from the list in 2013. The squirrel is native to West Virginia and, yes, Virginia. It doesn't really fly, although membranes between its legs serve as "wings" and let it glide from tree to tree.

Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound The American alligator was placed under federal protection in 1979 and removed eight years later thanks to limits on alligator hunting, which had depleted the species. Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound The gray wolf, which can be found in wilderness areas of the northern American West and Canada, was listed as endangered in 1978. After its populations recovered, the wolf was taken off the list in 2011. Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound The red kangaroo, the largest of all kangaroo species, is of course native to Australia's arid outback rather than the United States. According to a list released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it was added in 1974 and delisted in 1995. Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound The American peregrine falcon was classified as endangered in 1970 after its population was decimated by pesticides.

By 1975, there were only 324 known nesting pairs of American peregrine falcons. Conservation efforts helped them rebound, and they were removed from the list in 1999. There are now more than 2,000 known breeding pairs of the birds in North America. Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound Adult brown pelican, found in the coastal Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, can reach up to 8 pounds and have wingspans of over 7 feet. The birds were listed as endangered in 1970 but taken off the list in 2009. Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound The bald eagle, a revered American national symbol, was famously endangered for 40 years. By 1963, only 417 known nesting pairs of bald eagles remained in the U.S. Vigorous conservation efforts revived the handsome bird, and it was removed from the list in 2007.

Today there are more than 10,000 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the contiguous United States. Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: Endangered no more: Animal species on the rebound The Aleutian Canada goose, found in Alaska, Canada and the Pacific Northwest, numbered only in the hundreds in the mid-1970s. But efforts to recover the bird population were successful, and biologists estimated that there were 37,000 Aleutian Canada geese by the time the bird was removed from the list in 2001. Hide Caption Yellowstone National Park - Plan your Yellowstone Vacation here Yellowstone National Park Reservations , Lodging , Extensive Information , Maps , Top Attractions , Old Faithful Webcam , Forums and much more. Since 1997. A visit to Yellowstone National Park is a visit to one of the most amazing and special places on planet earth. Each year some 4,000,000 persons from throughout the world travel to Yellowstone and experience the magic of Wonderland – majestic geysers, amazing wildlife, spectacular waterfalls, towering mountains, high alpine lakes, pristine rivers and much more that provide ample opportunity for exploration and photography.

Far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life and situated atop a high mountain plateau, Yellowstone is an outdoor paradise for family vacationers, wildlife watchers, geyser gazers, hiking enthusiasts, outdoor lovers, and photographers of all skill levels. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the closest year-around airport to Yellowstone National Park. Located some 90 miles to the North of Yellowstone, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is accessible by all major American airlines and provides quick and easy access to the West and North entrances to the park. Rentals cars from major car rental agencies are available at the airport. The closest major airport to Yellowstone is Salt Lake International Airport in Utah. Cheap flights are often available at Salt Lake International for those willing to drive 4-5 hours to the Park. As at the Bozeman airport, rental cars from major car rental agencies are available at Salt Lake International. Yellowstone National Park and the larger Yellowstone region feature numerous hotel and other lodging facilities. Lodging inside Yellowstone is highly desirable but limited.

The five Yellowstone gateway communities of West Yellowstone (MT), Gardiner (MT), Jackson (WY), Cody (WY) and Silver Gate / Cooke City (MT) offer additional hotel and lodging options, including some relatively cheap hotels. Collectively, hotel and lodging options include rustic, historical, luxury, boutique, ranch, chain, local, glamping, camping, condos, home rentals and more. Yellowstone National Park and the gateway communities feature a wide array of restaurant and food choices, including locally sourced food, wild game, American fare, Chinese food and much more. An entrance fee or National Park Pass is required to enter Yellowstone National Park, but once inside the Park visitors are free to travel around the Park, but must abide by National Park Service rules. Many who visit Yellowstone feel a personal connection to this special place. Some return to work in the Park during the summer season. Seasonal jobs in the Yellowstone area include jobs in hotels, restaurants, gift shops and more. Yellowstone.Net, a local online guide since 1997, is designed to help you plan your Yellowstone National Park vacation. Whether viewed on your desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone or other mobile device, we hope to see you in Yellowstone this year!

Yellowstone National Park’s Top Ten things to see: Mammoth Hot Springs We are sometimes asked, “What are the things I must see when I visit Yellowstone?” Yellowstone National Park is vast and varied, and visitors have different interests and abilities, so there is no one easy answer. However, we have compiled a general list of the top attractions in Yellowstone that we feel will be helpful. It is designed to serve as a starting point for planning your visit. Click Here for our Top Ten things to see .

Interesting Yellowstone National Park Facts: World’s First National Park A designated World Heritage Site and designated Biosphere Reserve 3,472 square miles or 8,987 square km 2,221,766 acres or 898,317 hectares 63 air miles north to south (102 km) 54 air miles east to west 87 km) 96 % in Wyoming Highest Point: 11,358 ft / 3,462 m (Eagle Peak) Lowest Point: 5,282 ft / 1,610 m (Reese Creek) Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined Approximately 5% of park is covered by water; 15% is grassland; and 80% is forest Precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at the north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner Temperatures (average) at Mammoth: January: 9° F/-13 C in July: 80° F/27 C High: 99°F/37 C, 2002 (Mammoth

) Low Temp: -66° F/-54 C (West Entrance, Riverside Station 1933)

Question: Yellowstone National Park lies predominantly in which US state?
Answer: WYOMING